News Desk
PAHALGAM, India — Indian intelligence has identified Adil Ahmed Thoker, a Kashmiri militant trained in Pakistan, as a central figure in the attack. Thoker, who entered Pakistan on a student visa in 2018, returned in 2024 alongside ISI-trained operatives Hashim Musa and Ali Bhai, both Pakistani nationals. The trio, now subjects of a $24,000 bounty, is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a terrorist group with a long history of orchestrating violence in Kashmir. Indian officials assert that the attackers used advanced military-grade weapons, body cameras, and app-based location maps, revealing a sophisticated operation that could only have been orchestrated with state-level support.
Adding to the provocations, Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, recently claimed in an interview with The New York Times that Lashkar-e-Taiba is “no longer active” in Pakistan. This assertion starkly contradicts evidence from Indian intelligence, which has traced digital footprints of the attack to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, as well as intercepted communications revealing Pakistani handlers monitoring the assault in real time. Such denials, Indian officials argue, are a familiar tactic of Pakistan’s military establishment to deflect international scrutiny while continuing to fuel militancy across the border.
The serene valley of Pahalgam, a jewel in India’s Kashmir region, was shattered on April 22, when a meticulously planned terrorist attack claimed 26 lives, targeting hotels frequented by tourists and locals alike. The Pahalgam attack has reignited global concerns about Pakistan’s role as a sanctuary for terrorist outfits. While India has worked to foster peace and development in Kashmir, integrating the region through infrastructure projects and tourism initiatives, the ISI’s covert operations threaten to unravel these efforts. Intelligence reports indicate that the agency is increasingly recruiting digitally trained terrorists, exploiting modern technology to orchestrate attacks that deepen communal tensions in Kashmir, a region long cherished for its syncretic culture.
India’s response has been resolute. Security forces demolished Thoker’s home in Pulwama, signaling zero tolerance for terrorism, while the government has called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable. “This is not just an attack on India but on the shared values of peace and stability,” said a senior Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official emphasized that Pakistan’s continued support for groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba undermines global counterterrorism efforts.
As Kashmir mourns its losses, the resilience of its people shines through. Local communities have united in condemnation of the attack, with interfaith vigils honoring the victims and reaffirming the region’s commitment to harmony. India’s government, meanwhile, has pledged to bolster security in tourist hubs like Pahalgam, ensuring that the valley remains a beacon of hope and beauty.
For the global community, the Pahalgam attack serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by state-sponsored terrorism. While Pakistan’s leaders deflect blame, the evidence paints a damning picture of a deep state intent on perpetuating violence. As one Indian analyst put it, “The ISI’s shadow looms large over Kashmir, but India’s spirit will not be broken.”
